Community Chat

[Stormygirl]

@gidgetgh thank you for sharing your very interesting and quirky painting. I kinda like it but then again I appreciate the "Unusual, quirky and uniquely different. I do not find it sinister at all. Anyway someone mentioned some good advice about going to a local university art dept. Also I know Mike Wolfe from Antique Archeology (American Pickers) He loves old and quirky artwork so you may want to contact him. Just a suggestion and even if he isnt interested in it he has many sources who deal in art. Dont give up on this...........and if you watch American Pickers some things we may not see the value are worth the time to really research. My Dh "inherited" a REALLY ugly painting that I have to see every day. Ughhh looks like it came right off the wall from June Cleavers house. We did some research, had it appraised but it was a reproduction worth about 75 bucks....but if it was the real deal would have been worth ALOT. (And it is way uglier then anyone could say about your cool painting) Paintings of people show personality, character and sometimes there is someone out there to give this "cool dude" a special spot on a wall. Good Luck xxxxxxxxx Stormy

[SaRina]

I see:  Chooden File

Then:  Ragaen (something P?) or Rajaen or Rayaen

[gidgetgh]

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@Pearlee wrote:

@gidgetgh  That is one fugly painting!  I sure don't want it, unless it's really a Velazquez - then you can give it to me!  

Seriously, if I found out it's really of little-to-no-value and it were mine, I'd probably keep it in a room I don't go in much (or your sister can do this if she likes it any better than you do) just because it's so old and because it would rmind me of my father.   

I would not, however, put it over my living room mantelpiece in prominent view!  

I don't think you should do anything about getting rid of it until you find out more about it from someone who knows what they are doing - just in case there is some value to it, you don't want to be sorry you got rid of it.  

I say this because people here in town have found Picasso sketches and other similar things of great value at our Goodwill-type places.  You don't want to have any regrets.

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@Pearlee- exactly. I don't want to be watching Antiques Roadshow one day and someone shows up with this painting and says "I bought it for $1.00 at Goodwill".  I want to walk away from this painting with a sense of peace, knowing that I did what I could to determine its value.... or lack thereof, LOL. 

I smiled at your fugly comment. That's how we feel. I keep it in our guest room, resting against the bed. It's in there with my stuffed bear that I got when I was 3. My bear doesn't like it either and would prefer it not to be there!

[gidgetgh]

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@SaRina wrote:

I see:  Chooden File

Then:  Ragaen (something P?) or Rajaen or Rayaen

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@SaRina- Good old Chooden. We remember him well. LOL. 

In the morning, I'm going to start researching a possibly Italian connection if that is really a January date. And I'll see if I can find what Castellany is. 

I've looked at lots of lists of artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and New England artists, etc., but I was looking at that being a name and not a date. So I'll also start looking for our friend Chooden. I'll see if I can get a better picture of that side in the daylight. 

I really appreciate all the help. 

[DowntonAbbey]

You can send a picture to Country LIVING magazine as they show worth of things and tell us what the paintig is or take a picture for us to see.  I would keep it until I knew.......you have not exhausted all efforts but seems like you have.  Do you know where they got the picture?  Is it oil or water color?  So no name on the art at all?  No initials anywhere?  Is it ugly?  I think art is beautiful and if you or your family memeber do not like it then give it to someone else in the family...........call New Orleans art galleries as they love art and have so many there.........look online to see who might be interested.........you should be able to tell if it if paint by numbers? Is it crackling? 

[gidgetgh]

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@DowntonAbbey wrote:

You can send a picture to Country LIVING magazine as they show worth of things and tell us what the paintig is or take a picture for us to see.  I would keep it until I knew.......you have not exhausted all efforts but seems like you have.  Do you know where they got the picture?  Is it oil or water color?  So no name on the art at all?  No initials anywhere?  Is it ugly?  I think art is beautiful and if you or your family memeber do not like it then give it to someone else in the family...........call New Orleans art galleries as they love art and have so many there.........look online to see who might be interested.........you should be able to tell if it if paint by numbers? Is it crackling? 

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@DowntonAbbey- it's an oil painting and actually in terrific condition. 

I have no no idea where my great aunt got it. Thanks for the tip on Country Living. 

[DowntonAbbey]

It is in perfect condition............could be self portrait but could be a friend or someone that was kind to them.............very nice..............you just have to find out about it............or put it in a guest room.  Maybe google signatures of famous artists and also look up artists in the city or state where the picture came from............if you know the state where it was found then look up artists signatures in that state.

[DowntonAbbey]

Well two tihngs we know........the painter like his subject and the person he painted was happy to be painted.

[Pearlee]

@gidgetgh If all else fails, you know Stormygirl123 will take it!      

[Lorelei1123]

I didn't read the entire thread, therefore I apologize in advance if this is a duplicate of someone else's response.

Many years ago, my mom inherited several pieces of art (paintings, lithographs, sketches) from an extended family member.  These items have been stored in a safe place for quite a while, until we finally decided to obtain appraisals and any other pertinent information.

After doing as much research as I could on the internet, I stumbled across the website, justanswer.com.  Through the site, I was able to connect with an experienced art appraiser (this individual forwarded their credentials to me), and submitted several digital pics of the artwork for review/appraisal (they give you specific guidelines).  It did cost a certain amount per item (this was in 2014, so unfortunately I'd have to try to search for the exact price, but I don't remember it being super-ridiculously high). 

The biggest issue for us was the inability to ascertain the name of the artists on the pieces.  After receiving the appraisals, which included the artists' names, I was then able to perform confirmation research and my findings matched the appraisal (just my way of making sure that the information that was initially received was legit). 

In my opinion, it was worth the cost of the appraisal.  Just an FYI: we also tried Sotheby's and received the same "not interested" reply.

I hope this information helps!!!